Cylchgronau Cymru

in common-both depend for their success on a sound public opinion. This if anything is a People's War, and nothing can save the situation unless the people themselves have the Will to Victory. God offered to save the Cities of the Plain for the sake of ten righteous men. But Britain will never be saved from strong drink unless the mass of the people At the same Conference on the 1 1 th October Mr. William George proposed the following series of resolutions 1. That in the opinion of this Federation no measure of Temperance Reform will be satisfactory to Wales which does not tend towards the complete suppression of the Drink Traffic. 2. That having regard to the advanced state of public opinion in Wales on this question, the case of Wales is entitled to special treatment in any measure of Licensing Reform that may be brought forward by the Government. The Federation places on record the Central Control Board's order for the Welsh area. It asserts with confidence that the restrictions and regulations of the order have behind them the general support of Wales and presses for their continuation after the War. 3. That the Government Licensing Bill should provide for the immediate suppression of not less than one-third of the public houses in every licensing area, on payment of just compensation out of State funds (subject to provisions which may be necessary for securing to the State the addi- tional value attaching to the remaining licenses by reason of such reduction).* 4. That the Federation is strongly opposed to the State Pur- chase and Management of public-houses, and is of opinion *Mr. George was not directly responsible for the paragraph with- in brackets in this Resolution. CORRESPONDENCE STATE PURCHASE OR PROHIBITION? To the Editor of the Welsh Outlook. Sir, Mr. J. T. Rhys' article in your October issue appealing for support for the Prime Minister's Temperance proposals, will doubtless receive sympathetic consideration at the hands of your readers. But one feels bound to say that some of his observa- tions are open to severe criticism. First and foremost, he states that no other proposal stands the slightest chance of being realised at present or for many years to come. Many of your readers will find it difficult to accept this statement in view of the attitude taken in America in regard to the liquor traffic. I quote the following from Lord Northcliffe's recent articles in the Times on America at War." Referring to the huge camp which has been established on Long Island, Lord Northcliffe goes on to say They have a prompt and unexpected way of doing things in this country, which is pleasingly refreshing. One morning I read that all saloons within five miles of Yapbank had been want to be saved. Let us therefore not put our trust in mere machinery, parliamentary or otherwise let us rather re-double our efforts on the hearth, in the churches, in the schools, as well as along the highways and byways of life until the whole country is really aflame with zeal in the cause of sobriety. Criccieth. William George. that should a Government measure contain such clauses, they should be made optional for adoption or otherwise by the Counties or County Boroughs of Wales. 5. That in areas where such a system is not adopted, Local Option on the lines laid down in the Welsh Temperance Bill shall prevail as regards the public-houses not sup- pressed in accordance with Resolution 3-that is to say, that the said houses be liable to suppression by popular vote without compensation after a period of six years from the passing of the Act. 6. That the Committee in charge of the movement in favour of the adoption of a system of State Purchase (subject to Local Option and Compensation) in Wales be invited to a conference to consider these Resolutions with a view to the adoption of a united policy for the whole of Wales. Resolutions 1 and 2 were passed unanimously. Also Resolution 3 up to the words just compensa- tion." No. 4 was defeated by an amendment simply declaring against State Management of Public Houses. Instead of No. 5 a resolution adopting the Welsh Temperance Bill as an embodiment of the policy for Wales was adopted. Resolution 6 was not reached. And that is where the matter stands at present, as far as the North Wales Temperance Federation is concerned. closed, and nothing more was said about it. No discussion preceded the matter. There were no abstruse calculations as to compensation. The United States is at War. Saloons are not good for war-close them. That is all." Then, again, one is somewhat surprised to find a well-informed writer like Mr. Rhys ignoring the recent plebiscite on the Clyde as to Total Prohibition. Neither does he refer to the intense feeling in the Colonies, especially Canada, on the facilities for drinking in the camps. In Canada, the feeling has been so great that the circulation of The Fiddlers has been banned in that country. Mr. Rhys dismisses the huge expenditure which would be in- volved in a scheme of State Purchase by quoting Sir Thomas Whittaker's statement that it is only a paper transaction. Whatever Sir Thomas Whittaker may mean by this statement. there can be no getting away from the fact that the compensation to be paid is not a mere scrap of paper but something tangible and substantial, Yours, &c., DOUBTER.